It's one of the most used rooms in your house. But, you don't have to spend a fortune to make a huge impact on the look of your South Carolina home's bathroom. Here are a few ways to upgrade your bathroom for less:

Paint - Get rid of those boring white walls and add a splash of color. Flat paint won't work in a bathroom, however, because of the excess moisture found there. Semi-gloss exterior house paint works best because of the mildew-resistant properties manufacturers put in them. Since exterior paint is meant to be exposed to the elements, including heavy rains and morning dew, it makes the perfect interior bathroom paint. Typically, one gallon of paint will cover approximately 350 square feet of surface area.

Accessorize - Replace the shower curtain, towels and window treatments with something fresh for spring. Add a new bathroom throw rug. These are easy to clean. Remove the old flat wall mirror with a framed mirror for a completely updated different look. Buy a refillable hand soap dispenser. Photos or paintings on the walls add an extra area of interest.

Shower/Tub - Refinishing a shower or tub is much cheaper than replacing it. Replace the shower head with one that changes the intensity of the water, can be used as a handheld or a rainshower head that gives you a wider area of coverage. Exchange the old straight shower rod for a rounded one. This gives the illusion of a larger shower without spending the money on increasing the shower area.

Bathroom Fixtures - A new faucet can change the entire look of your bathroom simply and quickly. Even changing out your old towel rods or toilet paper holder can update your South Carolina home's look. Replace the old overhead fluroescent lighting with canned lights or new incandescent light fixtures.

If you are looking to make some changes to your South Carolina home and don't want to spend a lot of money doing it, you can upgrade your bathroom for less with these simple yet effective ideas. Contact me anytime you're looking to buy or sell a property in Northern Virginia or South Carolina.

Gene Mock, your Northern Virginia and South Carolina real estate specialist